Life lessons that speak to the heart

文章标题：Life lessons that speak to the heart
文章作者：Geoff Tan
发表日期：2012年5月4日
发表媒体：《我报》My Paper

American award-winning author and Pulitzer Prize finalist Regina Brett has taught me a lot about life through her column titled 50 Life Lessons, which was published in The Plain Dealer – a Cleveland, Ohio newspaper – in 2006.

Her article is so popular that bloggers the world over have reposted her sayings.


I’d like to share with you the ones that struck a chord with me. Take this: “Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.” This is a timely reminder to us all not to focus on work at the expense of our health.

And this:”Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.” I have experienced much-needed release on the occasions when I confided in a good friend who journeyed with me through some of my life’s most difficult moments.

“Don’t compare your life with others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.” This reminds me of the story of a man who complained he had no shoes, until he ran into someone who had no legs.

“Time heals almost everything. Give time time.” In this world of instant gratification, patience does not feature strongly as a virtue. We seem to want everything immediately.

However, when we are dealing with pain, there is no quick fix – searching for one may lead us onto the path of alcohol and drugs.

Brett wrote: “Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.” Coveting what others have places undue stress on us. Isn’t it better to live within our means?

“If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.” Let’s all learn to be more appreciative of what we have been blessed with.

My favourites are the ones that are written tongue-in-cheek. Take this: “Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save them for a special occasion. Today is special.”

And this: “Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.” And I can certainly relate to it when she wrote: “Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.”

There are so many gems in her column that it’s worth taking the time to ponder each of them.

My parting words are from her list, too: “No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.” Have a great day!

The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.